Protective device for beverage cans

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a protective device ( 1 ) for beverage cans ( 2 ). With the help of this device contamination of the drinking surface of beverage cans can be prevented and hygienic use after opening can be granted. The solution according to the invention has a cover ( 10 ) joining the upper part of the beverage can, which is characterized by that, the cover of the protective device is a cover of circular shape covering a discharging opening ( 9 ) of the beverage can and a cutout ( 8 ) is formed in α=60°−120° degree on said cover, furthermore in the bottom of the cover there is a fixing brim ( 6 ) joining below the brim ( 5 ) of the lid ( 3 ) of the beverage can.

The invention relates to a protective device for beverage cans. With thehelp of this device contamination of the drinking surface of beveragecans can be prevented and hygienic use after opening can be granted.

Marketing of soft drinks and beers take usually place in a verywide-spread practical packaging, in metal containers. The quick spreadof this packaging method resulted from the fact, that only a smallamount of raw material is necessary for their production, the can isvery light, it is not fragile and provides all conditions for storing ofthe liquid. Discharging of the content of the beverage can take placewith the help of the opening part located on the top of the can in away, that with the help of the flap on the opening part of the cover thedischarging opening is made free by pushing it inside, so discharging ofthe content is possible.

It is a well-known fact, that the discharging of drinks results inspilling of the liquid on the top cover of the can washing away the dustand contamination accumulated there. The same problem arises when thedrink is consumed directly from the can. This time the person's lipsdrinking from the can get in touch with the side, respectively with theupper part of the can, and contact between the consumer and thecontamination is established. Despite this fact so far not much has beendone in order to ensure storing and keeping tidy of the beverage cans.Producers and distributors pay relatively little attention to it.

In the state of art there are several solutions for diminishingrespectively eliminating the above mentioned problem. Hungarian patentapplication P 99 03887 published on 28 Mar. 2000 makes known adischarging spout that can be fixed to the top of a metal containersuitable for storing soft drinks. The solution described in this patentincludes a metal handle with rivets suitable for ripping open the carvedbreaking line of the protecting cap on the top of the metal containerwith the liquid. The metal handle is rigidly joined by a hammer. Thehandle is formed in such a way, that it is resistant and its reinforcedbeaker is made suitable for ripping open the protecting cap along thebreaking line at the beginning of the radial turning. Radial turning ispossible due to the fact, that there is a redundant amount of metalbetween the rivet-hole of the riveting hammer of the handle and the partopposite to the ripping part of the hammer and this way after punchingof the top and turning of the handle by maximum 180° along the slidingaxis, the discharging spout can be put into an active position. Duringthis positioning the wall-thickening placed along a rim of semicirculardiameter on the outer edge of the open lower ring can be wedged in theopening of the protecting cap, and after stretching of the stripcontaining the redundant metal amount the hammer comes below the innersurface of the top, to the level of riveting.

Hungarian patent application P 01 04459 published on 28 Mar. 2002 makesknown a top lid provided with a tidy covering rim opening device,suitable for beverage cans. HU 217 998 Hungarian patent describes amethod for hygienic gas-tight sealing beverage cans, furthermore abeverage can applicable accordingly. This method is especially suitablefor cans made of aluminum provided with a grooved place serving as drinkdischarging opening. This method provides a protecting cover for thepart in contact with the consumer's mouth. The beverage can describedtherein is preferably made of aluminum and it is provided with a devicewith a groove, that can be lifted. It is provided with an opening fordischarging the liquid preferable with tongue and furthermore it iscoated with a hygienic gas-tight sealing.

The disadvantage of the solutions in the state of art is that they donot comply with hygienic requirements furthermore they are complicatedstructures, and their production is difficult.

When working out the solution according to the invention we aimed towork out a simple device suitable for ensuring hygienic use of beveragecans after their opening.

When working out the solution according to the invention we realized,that in case we invent a device, which has a covering surface joiningthe upper part of the beverage can, which is a cover of circular shapecovering the discharging opening of the beverage can, and on said coverthere is a cutout formed in an α angle of 60° . . . 120°, andfurthermore in the bottom of the beverage can there is a fixing rimjoining below the rim of the top of the beverage can, then the set aimis achieved.

The solution according to the invention is a protective device forbeverage cans with a cover joining the upper part of the beverage can,which is characterized by that, the cover of the protective device is acover of circular shape covering a discharging opening of the beveragecan and a cutout is formed in α=60°−120° degree on said cover,furthermore in the bottom of the cover there is a fixing brim joiningbelow the brim of the lid of the beverage can.

In a preferred embodiment of the protective device, it has a skirtingcovering the side of the beverage can. In another preferred embodimentof the protective device, the angle of the cutout in the cover is α=80°. . . 90°. In a further preferred embodiment of the protective device,on the outer part of the cover of the protective device ribs are formed.The material of the protective device is preferably plastic, in givencase PVC or polypropylene or impregnated paper, or metal, in given casealuminum.

The description of the solution according to the invention is set forthas follows:

FIG. 1 shows the view of the protective device placed on the beveragecan.

FIG. 2 shows the section of the protective device according to theinvention placed on the beverage can 2.

FIG. 3 shows the protective device according to the invention in topview, with the covered position of the discharging opening.

FIG. 4 shows the protective device according to the invention in topview, with open position of the discharging opening.

FIG. 1 shows the view of the protective device 1 according to theinvention placed on the beverage can 2. It can be seen on FIG. 1 thatthe protective device 1 on the beverage can 2 is in the state beforeopening, so the flap 4 shaped on the top of the beverage can 2 can beseen, as well as the discharging opening 9 in closed position Theprotective device 1 has a cover 10 suiting to the lid 3 of the beveragecan 2 and furthermore it has skirtng 7 fitting on the side of thebeverage can 2. Preferably there is a cutout 8 of 60° . . . 120° anglein the cover 10 which in given case can continue downward in theskirting 7 as well. As it can be seen in FIG. 1 the protective device 1on the beverage can 2 is in the state before opening, so the flap 4placed on the lid 3 of the beverage can 2 can be seen as well as thedischarging opening 9 in closed position.

In FIG. 2 the section of the protective device 1 according to theinvention placed on the beverage can 2 is shown. The lid 3 of thebeverage can 2 and the cover 10 fitting on the protective device 1 canbe seen in the figure. As it can be seen in the figure, the protectivedevice 1 is fixed on the beverage can 2 by the fixing brim 6 of theprotective device 1, which joins below the brim 5 around the lid 3 ofthe beverage can 2. The part of the skirting 7 of the protective device1 of the beverage can 2 stretching down the side of the beverage can 2is in given case placed below it. The discharging opening 9 is locatedin the lid 3 of the beverage can 2 and the flap 4 is placed there aswell.

FIG. 3 shows the protective device 1 according to the invention in topview with the covered position of the discharging opening 9. The cutout8 of the protective device 1 is positioned opposite the drinking surfaceand the protective device 1 placed on the beverage can 2 covers thedischarging opening 9 located on the lid 3 of the beverage can 2. Thiscase the flap 4 is situated in the cutout 8 above the cover 10 of theprotective device 1.

FIG. 4 shows the protective device 1 in top view, with the dischargingopening 9 in open position. The cutout 8 of the protective device 1placed on the beverage can 2 is this case above the discharging opening9 of the lid 3 so the discharging opening 9 can be freely opened withthe flap 4. The protective device 1 is put into this position on thebeverage can 2 by turning it, during which the cover 10 of theprotective device 1 turns between the lid 3 of the beverage can 2 andthe flap 4. This way the flap 4 can be freely lifed, and with its lowerpart the discharging opening 9 can be opened and the drink can bedischarged from the beverage can 2.

The opening of the beverage can 2 can take place in two ways: Either thebeverage can 2 is opened first with the help of the flap 4 and thecutout 8 of the protective device 1 is turned above the dischargingopening 9, or the protective device 1 is turned on the beverage can 2before the opening in such a way, that the discharging opening 9 becomesopen in the state according to the FIG. 1. The cutout 8 of theprotective device 1 makes it possible, that with the lifing of the flap4 its lower part pushes the lid 3 of the beverage can 2, so thedischarging opening 9 in the lid 3 becomes free along the line groovedin advance. When drinking, the consumer's mouth gets into touch with theside and lid 3 of the beverage can 2 previously covered. Duringdischarging the liquid gets into contact with parts of the beverage can2 only, which were previously covered by the protective device 1according to the invention. This way the liquid can not wash awaycontamination from the side or of the lid 3 of the beverage can 2 duringdischarging.

According to a preferred embodiment of the solution according to theinvention the cover 10 of the protective device 1 joins below the brim 5of the lid 3 of the beverage can 2 folding back running around insidewith a fixing brim 6 and has a skirting 7 stretching on the slantingpart of the beverage can 2. On the top there is a cutout 8 of V shapestretching below the center of the lid 3 of the beverage can 2. Theshape of the cutout 8 in given case is the shape of a key-hole witharched inside and with a depth leaving enough space under the flap 4 ofthe beverage can 2. In given case the cover 10 covers the top of thebeverage can 2 till the rotation line of the flap 4. In an actual casethe angle of the cutout 8 is within angle 60° . . . 120° preferably 80°. . . 90°.

In a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention thecover 10 of the protective device 1 is pressed on the lid 3 of thebeverage can 2 by vacuum seal and carbon dioxide can lift it at the timeof opening of the flap 4 only. This preferred embodiment is suitable forensuring full sealing.

In given case the lateral skirtng 7 can stretch as far as the bottom ofthe upper slanting part of the beverage can 2 or even below it ensuringin given case full cover of the part of the beverage can 2 in contactwith the mouth. In given case on the outer part of the cover 10 of theprotective device 1 ribs are formed helping the turning. The material ofthe protective device 1 according to the invention is plastic material,in given case PVC or polypropylene, or impregnated paper, or metal, ingiven case aluminum.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention, that it is asimple structure, can be produced with little raw material consumptionand at the same time it is easy to use. The device can be produced inone mold with injection molding or pressing. It can be fixed to thebeverage can during production, and it remains on the can after itsopening. After discharging the liquid, it can be disposed together withthe beverage can, so it causes no litter problems. The use of the deviceaccording to the invention is easy and ensures perfectly well the tidyand hygiene of the surroundings of the opening and gives full protectionagainst dust as well.

1. Protective device for beverage cans with a cover joining the upperpart of the beverage can, characterized by that, the cover of theprotective device is a cover of circular shape covering a dischargingopening of the beverage can and a cutout is formed in α=60°−120° degreeon said cover, furthermore in the bottom of the cover there is a fixingbrim joining below the brim of the lid of the beverage can. 2.Protective device according to claim 1, characterized by that, theprotective device has a skirting covering the side of the beverage can.3. Protective device according to claim 1, characterized by that, theangle of the cutout in the cover is α+80° . . . 90°.
 4. Protectivedevice according to claim 1, characterized by that, on the outer part ofthe cover of the protective device ribs are formed.
 5. Protective deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized by that, the material of theprotective device is plastic, in given case PVC or polypropylene orimpregnated paper, or metal, in give case aluminum.